Introduction Letter - October 6 2012 - MUST READ

Greetings and Blessings, Lay Servants of the Metro Region
(cc: Clergy and Church Secretaries),

Good News

The 2012 General
Conference of The United Methodist Church has made sweeping change to
Lay Speaking Ministries. These changes will have little effect on us
in the Metro Region. For the most part, the changes set policies and
practices we have followed since 2009. One addition is the expansion
of requirements for lay preachers. Many of you who preach already
meet most of these requirements – a sign of good stewardship of
your gifts.

Expected Fruit

We accomplished
much in the last quadrennium – were even singled out as leading our
denomination. Much is expected of us in the next. So, we need to grow
the disciples of Jesus that God has planted in Metro. To do this, we
must encourage and support good stewardship of our spiritual gifts.
By cultivating our gifts through education and investing them through
ministry, we will bear substantial fruit. We will grow closer to God.
We will make disciples of Jesus Christ. We will transform the world.
We will do this as individuals and communities.